The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-08-08
ESTABLISHED 1850.
j. III. ESTlLL, Editor and Proprietor.
VOOLFOLK AT ATLANTA.
THE AUTHORITIES AFRAID TO
KEEP HIM AT MACON.

He Protests Innocence and Says the
Crime is Too Sad to Talk About-A
Possibility That He Attempted to
Outrage His Sister-3.oOO People
Around the Graves of the Dead.
MACON, GA, Aug Fully 5000
people were at Rose Hill cemetery
this morning at 10 O'Clock to witness
the funeral ceremonies over the Voolfolk
victims Nine hearses brought in the bodies
ut the appointed time. Owing to the size
of the undertaking the graves could not be
prepared in time and the cof1ins were
placed side by side in an adjoining section
to await their completion. Meanwhile
heavy shower came up, completely drench-
ing everything, but it did not dampen the
interest of the people who stood and gazed
horror stricken at the unusual sight.
THE MURDERER's SISTER ARRIVES.
While waiting upon the workmen DIR. J.
r. Branham, of Forsyth, conducted the
funeral rites. His remarks were touching
and appropriate, and melted the large con.
course to tears during the delivery Mrs:
Edwards, of East Macon, an own sister of
Tom Voolfolk, the murderer, arrived dur
ing the ceremonies and saw the cotfins for
the first time. She had been prostrated
with hysteria ever since she had heard the
awful news As soon as her eyes met the
sight she gave vent to piercing screams that
were heard over the large cemetery.
THE DEAD wIFE's FATHER.
The aged father of Mrs Voolfolk, Mr..
Howard, and his sons, Charles and John,
were also present The old man, with his
white hair loose down his shoulders, pre-
sented pitiable spectacle in his great grief.
The graves, nine i'll all, were not finished
before o'clock this afternoon, when the
burial took place. The bodies were inferred
side by side
Tom Voolfolk was taken by the Sheriff
to Atlanta, on this mornings early train.
This was done as a precautionary measure,
as it was feared the terrible scene of the fu-
neral would excite the crowd to madness.
BLOOD AND BRAINS.
There are no new developments since yes
terday The clothing fished out of the well
had blood and brains on it. As far as
learned, Voolfolk has not attempted to ex-
plain their presence in the well The COM
munty is still terribly worked up over the
matter, as the murdered family was highly
connected in this city, and well thought of
over the entire county. There seems to be
little doubt in the public mind that Tom
Voolfolk is the murderer. A theory of
the crime advanced to-day is
that Voolfolk attempted to outrage his sis
ter Pearl, which some say he had attempted
before, and failing began the wholesale
slaughter to cover up the blackness of the
deed. This theory, however, is not gener-
ally accepted. After butchering his victims
he went back and felt them all to see if their
lips were sealed, and unless he confesses it
will never be positively known exactly how
and why he did it.
IN FULTON COUNTY JAIL.
ATLANTA, GA, Aug. 7.-Thomas G.
Voolfolk, charged with the
massacre in Bibb county Friday night, was
brought here from Macon this morning and
put in Fulton jail for safekeeping. He
sent for Judge James T. Nisbett during the
day and tried to employ him as counsel,
Offering him big fee. He said as all the
family were killed save his own sisters he
would now get the greater portion
of his fathers property, and
could pay his lawyer well. Nisbett has not
yet decided to take the case. Voolfolk
asked the Judges advice as to talking, as
numbers of reporters were asking to see
him. He was advised that he had better
hold his tongue.
TALKED LITTLE.
The prisoner talked little about the
crime before this, but protested innocence.
In reference to the charge that another
crime was committed besides murder he
said there would be another murder if he
could get to the father of that charge.
Your correspondent visited the prisoner in
his cell this afternoon, but the prisoner,
while willing to talk on other topics, refused
to be interviewed touching the crime He
said it was too sad to discuss and he pre-
ferred to be silent. He was self-possessed,
rational and showed no grief or other emo
ton. Some fear is expressed by the Jail
authorities that the general feeling in the
community over the crime may lead to
some effort at violence to the prisoner here,
but they are amply prepared to protect him.